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Mytek Manhattan II as preamp

Is anyone using their Manhattan II Dac as a preamp and is it better than a really good preamp with great Dac? I currently have an Ayre K5xeMP preamp to my Mark Levinson amp but have a Mytek Manhattan II on the way and curious if straight Dac to amp will sound as good or better than Dac to pre to amp. Is the Manhattan II analog volume control that good? 
lnitm
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,744 posts
 
Charlie H and I were friends on FB ( RIP ) and debated this general ? Extensively, you will soon be in a great place to answer the question for yourself. We both settled on pre sounding better, theory be #%?€£¥ !!!!

let us know how it fares but please be exact about level matching
nmolnar
37 posts
 
I  have a Mytek Manhattan II that I tried as a preamp and it was good but not as good as my Audio Research LS-28 line stage. I use the analog volume control setting and that sounds marginally better than the digital volume control setting. Try it and see what you think.
lnitm OP
139 posts
 
I must say, the Mytek is outstanding performer as a Dac through my Ayre preamp but the sound is dull, not as airy and soundstage much smaller using it as a preamp. I guess I didn’t realize how good and big a difference my Ayre K-5exMP is! Dac with good separate preamp is way to go. 
erik_squires
15,646 posts
 
:)

See?? :)

Best,

Erik
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